Six members of the Labour Party, LP, in the Enugu State House of Assembly have formally switched allegiance to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The announcement of their defection was made on Thursday in Enugu, with a letter read by the Speaker, Chief Uche Ugwu, during the plenary session. Among the defectors are Mr. Johnson Ani, Enugu North, who serves as the Majority Leader, Mr. Ejike Eze, Igbo-Eze North 1, who is the Chief Whip, and Ms. Princess Ugwu, Enugu South Rural, who holds the position of Deputy Chief Whip.
Others are Mr Pius Ezugwu, Nsukka East; Mr Williams Amuka, Igbo-Etiti West; and Mr Osita Eze , Oji River.
The defectors, in the letters, said their defection was as a result of the existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the labour party at the national level and across all the state chapters.
They regretted that the party had evolved into perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, which undermine its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
The Labour Party, once considered a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorates, according to them.
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They cited the cases of Mr Julius Abure and Mr Limido Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.
They expressed the hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leaderships of Labour Party for their supports.
The defectors also acknowledge that the letters were sent to the office of the Speaker by themselves, adding that they would work wholeheartedly for the progress of their new party in Enugu State.
In his remark, the Speaker welcomed the defectors into the PDP and promised that they would be carried along in the legislative activities of the House.
With the defection, the PDP now had the majority in the House with 17 members while LP had only six members.
